The artwork titled “Breakdown” by artist William H. Johnson, created in 1941, is a notable piece belonging to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. Categorized under the genre painting, the piece portrays a scene imbued with simplicity and directness, characteristic of its style.
The artwork features vivid, bold colors and simplistic forms, emphasizing the raw and unrefined aesthetics typical of Naïve Art. Depicted in the scene is an old vehicle, seemingly broken down, with vibrant hues of blue, yellow, and red. A man is shown in a distressed posture, with his head down, holding an object, perhaps indicative of his exhaustion or contemplation over the breakdown. The background is filled with a radiant sunset and abstract green and brown sections, possibly representing fields, contributing to a rustic, pastoral setting. The artist’s signature style is evident in the exaggerated proportions and vibrant palette, evoking a sense of narrative through the simplicity and emotional intensity of the composition.
